Where to Stay in London
Choosing where to stay decides how your London trip feels. The best areas for first-timers, families and tight budgets, the types of accommodation, and the booking traps to avoid.
Where you stay shapes your whole London trip. A hotel close to good transport can save you hours, while the wrong area can mean long journeys every morning. Accommodation is one of the biggest costs of any visit, so it pays to understand the options before you book.
The guides in this section compare the best areas for first-time visitors, families and travellers on a budget, explain the different types of accommodation, and point out the booking mistakes and scams to avoid.
54 guides in this section.
Choosing an area
The Best Areas to Stay in London
The main areas compared, and who each one suits.
Where to Stay in London for First-Timers
Close to the sights, without paying top prices.
Where to Stay in London with Kids
Space, parks, museums and easy transport.
Staying near King's Cross, St Pancras and Paddington
The pros and cons of sleeping next to a big station.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Types of accommodation
Budget Hotels in London
The chains, the areas to compare and what you give up.
Hostels in London
Dorms, private rooms and what to check before booking.
Apartments and Short Lets in London
The 90-night rule, and how to avoid rental scams.
London's Grand Hotels
Famous hotels, and how to enjoy them without staying.
Booking Tips and Accommodation Scams
Fake listings, payment red flags and hidden fees.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Staying in a particular area
Staying in Soho and Covent Garden
As central as it gets, and how loud that actually is.
Staying on the South Bank
River views, and everything within walking distance.
Staying in Shoreditch and the East
Better food, lower prices, and a short ride into town.
Staying in Kensington and Chelsea
Quiet squares, big museums, and surprisingly fair prices.
Staying Near Victoria
Handy for Gatwick and the coaches, mixed for everything else.
Staying in Bloomsbury
Georgian squares and the best-value central beds.
Staying in Camden and North London
Markets and music, a few stops up the Northern line.
Staying in Greenwich
A riverside village, with a boat into town instead of a Tube.
Aparthotels and Serviced Apartments
A kitchen and a washing machine, for not much more.
Bed and Breakfasts and Guest Houses
What a London B&B is, and what breakfast really means.
Pod and Capsule Hotels
Tiny rooms, excellent locations, and who should avoid them.
When to Book a London Hotel
How far ahead to book, and whether last-minute ever wins.
Hotel Extras and Hidden Costs
What is included in a London room rate, and what is not.
Staying Outside London to Save Money
What you save on the room, and spend on the fare.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
What you are actually booking
What a London Hotel Room Is Actually Like
Small rooms, small lifts, and a kettle instead of air conditioning.
Booking a London Hotel You Can Cancel
When the flexible rate pays for itself, and when it does not.
Family Rooms and Rooms for Three in London
Most rooms hold two. How to find the ones that do not.
Early Check-in and Bag Storage at London Hotels
You land at seven, the room is ready at three. What to do until then.
Finding a London Hotel With Air Conditioning
Windows that open ten centimetres, and no cooling.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Areas the price sends you to
Staying in Westminster
Minutes from the Abbey, and dead by seven. What that is worth.
Staying in Mayfair and Marylebone
Mayfair prices, and the village next door where you can get a table.
Staying in Earl's Court and West London
Where budget London has always been, and a straight line to the middle.
Staying in Canary Wharf
Empty at weekends, and cheap because of it. Fifteen minutes in.
Staying Near ExCeL and Stratford
One for the exhibition, one for the family. They are not the same.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Sleeping by the runway
Staying Near Heathrow
When it is worth it, which terminal has one attached, and shuttle costs.
Staying Near Gatwick
Two you can walk to, and a dozen that need a bus at five in the morning.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Rooms with a particular requirement
Accessible Hotels in London
What an accessible room means here, and the five questions to ask.
Hotels with Parking in London
Almost none have one. Where to leave the car instead.
University Rooms in the Summer Holidays
Halls of residence in Bloomsbury at hostel prices, June to September.
British Hotel Chains Explained
What each chain gives you, and which rooms have air conditioning.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Areas the guides do not list
Staying in Holborn
Theatres walkable, City rates, and dead at the weekend.
Staying in Clerkenwell and Farringdon
Two of the best rail connections in London, and good food downstairs.
Staying in Islington
Four theatres, a canal, and fifteen minutes from King's Cross.
Staying on Bankside and at London Bridge
The best-placed area for a first visit, and the prices know it.
Staying Near Waterloo
Four lines, the South Bank on foot, and Lower Marsh for dinner.
Staying in Notting Hill and Bayswater
Two prices, one postcode. And what carnival weekend does to it.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Sleeping near the venue
Staying Near the O2 and Greenwich Peninsula
Built for the arena. What a concert night does to the rates.
Staying Near Wembley
Cheap on a quiet night, impossible on a match night. How to tell.
Staying Near Twickenham
Few hotels by the ground. Richmond and Kingston are the answer.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
A room with a particular requirement
If Your Hotel Cancels on You
What the terms promise, and how to get a room the same night.
Pet-Friendly Hotels in London
Which chains take dogs, the charge, and where to walk one.
London Hotels with Swimming Pools
Rare, small and usually a basement. The lidos are often better.
Room Types in Britain: Twin, Double and En Suite
Twin, double, en suite, family room. The words that ruin a night.
Quiet Hotels and Street Noise in London
Bin lorries at five and a sash window. What to ask when you book.
Camping and Caravanning Near London
Four sites within an hour. And why it is not always cheaper.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.